Thursday, August 14, 2014

Chess Olympiads 2014 - China and Russia Victory

For the first time in chess history, China team won the chess Olympiad gold medal. China is (something like) the 10th nations to ever won gold medals and surely the first Asian nation. To added on the celebration, India out of nowhere jump into the third place for Bronze. The silver gone to Hungary, who with Judit Polgar on board, received their first medal since 2002. In the final round (11), China won against Poland by a win of young Yu Yangyi against Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Yu Yangyi playing the black side of B29 Sicilian Nimzovich-Rubinstein variation. Yu Yangyi is having his peak performance, recorded the highest performance rating for overall the event.Russian women team clinched the gold medal. Alexandra Kosteniuk and friends were in their top form throughout the tournament. China with Hou Yifan bring along silver to match the oriental party for this year. While Ukraine got the bronze medal in this 2014 Chess Olympiad.

2014 Chess Olympiad being held since August 1st till today in Tromso, resort city in Norway. On the rise of many Asian nations, Indonesian team did not really enjoy much improvement in term of final standing position. The men team finish on rank #43 despite being seeded only at #72. Won 6 match, loses 4 and drew 1. First board Susanto Megaranto is the only one consistent with only one loses, his rating performances is 2730. His victories included GM Sergey Zhigalko, Leitao and Carlos Gonzales. With a draw against Gelfand and Zhang Zhong. All of Indonesian team granted with more FIDE rating points after the Olympiads.The Women team, despite a good start, was not able to keep up the patch. Their final standing is at #61, low against their seeded at #23. This result is low against Indonesian women achievement in 2010 and 2012 Olympiads. While other Asian team was actually catching up in the final standing.

Irene Kharisma Sukandar, being modest upon their journey in the 2014 chess olympiads